Atomizer construction



March 17, 1959 J. R, GRosHoLz I 2,878;067

AToMIzER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 1. 1954 IHIIHUHMNIHPIHMI l l l i I I I l l l vare attained will be clear from the United States Patent O 2,878,061 AroMIzEn CONSTRUCTION James R. Grosholz, Wayne, Pa., assignor to Air-Shields, Inc., Hatboro, Pa., a corporationy of Delaware Application December 1, 1954, Serial No. 472,329 6 claims. (ci. 299-142) This invention relates to improvements in atomizing equipment and is particularly concerned with apparatus in which the atomizer unit is removable.

Atomizers which are used for breaking up liquids into finely divided particles and mixing them with air or other gases usually incorporate small passages which must be kept clear, as even partial clogging interferes with proper functioning. It is therefore desirable to provide means for inspecting and cleaning the small passages in order to maintain the atomizer in good operating condition. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an atomizer construction which may be more quickly and easily mounted or dismounted to permit cleaning` or replacing. Y

In order to prevent corrosive action in the small passages through the atomizer it is desirable to make the head portion of glass or other corrosion resistance material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple mounting structurefor the atomizer head on the body and at the same time to provide protective structure to prevent damage to the fragile head parts.

A specic object of the invention is to provide an atomizer construction which permits it to be pushed into positiony in a cylindrical opening and to be retained in position yby frictional restraint without the need for threads or other complicated fastening means.

How the foregoing and other objects and advantages following description of the drawing in which- Figure 1 shows a view partly in section of a humiditying device incorporating an atomizer constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the atomizer shown to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the atomizer device.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the atomizer.

The humidifier device shown in Figure 1 incorporates a body to which a delivery duct 11 and a return circulation duct 12 are attached. The upper ends of these ducts are connected to the supporting wall 13 by means of clips 14 which engage the edge of suitable openings 15 in the wall 13. A reservoir 16 is attached to the lower end of the body 10 by means of the threaded cap 17. l

Flexible tube 18 delivers air or other gas for the operation of the humidifier through channel 19 in the body 10. The general construction of the humidifier device forms no part of the present invention per se since it is shown and claimed in the co-pending application of Samuel Y. Gibbon, Serial No. 350,452, filed April 22, 1953, now Patent No. 2,778,617, the present disclosure being by way of example of suitable equipment with which the improved atomizer of the present invention may be used.

In the body 10 a cylindrical opening 20 supports the atomizer unit 21. Channel 19 opens through the wall of cylindrical opening 20. Atomizer unit 21 incorporates a cylindrical portion 22 having a diameter and length to lit cylindrical opening 20. A groove 23 extends annular- 2,878,067 Patented Mar. 17, 1959 1y around the cylindrical portion 22 at a position in alignment with the end of channel 19. On each side of groove 23 a sealing ring 24 is mounted in a groove in the cylindrical portion 22 of the atomizer body. Below the opening 20 an enlarged portion 25 of the atomizer body produces a locating shoulder which assures that the groove 23 is properly positioned with respect to channel 19. This enlarged portion 25 r.also provides a convenient means for gripping the atomizer when it is being mounted or dismounted.

The atomizer head 26 is preferably made of glass or some other non-corrosive material and includes a nozzle 27 for delivering the gas supplied through tube 18. The liquid is delivered at the atomizer head through curved tube member 28, across the end of which the high velocity iow from nozzle 27 passes to create the suction for lifting the liquid. Two small nipples 29 and 30 are attached to the upper endof cylindrical portion 22. The head 26 is attached to these nipples, the nozzle 27 being attached to nipple 29 by means of flexible tubing 31 and tube 28 being attached to the nipple 30 by a similar tube 31a.

As will be seen more clearly in Figure 2 the opening in nozzle `27 connects up with channel 32 which extends from nipple 29 through the cylindrical portion 22 where it opens into the groove 23 at 33. The tube 28 also has a connecting channel 34 through nipple 30 which 'extends completely through the body of the atomizer as indicated. The channel 34 also passes through nipple 35 located at the bottom end of the enlarged portion'ZS of the unit. Nipple 35 supports the flexible tube'36 which extends into the reservoir to supply the atomizer formed, 'one on each side of the atomizer head. By this construction the delicate head unit 26 is protectedfrom damage during the operation of inserting or removing the atomizer. The body of the atomizer is preferably molded from a plastic material which is impervious to water or other liquids which might be used.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that I have provided an improved atomizer construction which may be quickly slipped into or out of operating position. The use of a cylindrical portion permits the unit to be mounted in a cylindrical aperture and to be'adequately sealed by means of O-ring seals. These seals also provide the frictional characteristics for holding the atomizer in position. The use of a demountable head unit permits easy removal of this portion ofthe atomizer for cleaning. By means of the pronged extension of the atomizer body, an atomizer of rugged construction is produced which is not readily damaged during storage or when being mounted into operating position. With this construction the atomizer may be removed for cleaning or replacement in a matter of seconds, thereby greatly increasing the serviceability and utility of the equipment in which the atomizer is used.

I claim:

l. A delivery unit for an atomizer device, said unit having a body with a smooth cylindrical portion, a supporting structure for holding said delivery unit, said :gerader of the cylindrical. opening kto .support said unit in position when inserted therein, ,saidbody having a channel with an opening in the wall of the cylindrical portion between said seals, said supporting structure also having adelivery channelt-thereinxtwith an outlet in the wall of the cylindricaly opening, ,an atomzer head at one end of said'. body to Which-saiddelivery channel connects,.said body also incorporating another channels extendingfrom said head longitudinally therethrough for deliveringluid to said'atomizerrhead, a `fluid delivery tube attached 4to the end ofusaid bodyopposite saidrhead, 'said tube-being removable as part ofrsaid delivery unit.

2.` Adeliveryunit for an atomizena mounting block having a cylindrical opening, said iunitri having affbody with acylindrical portion to lit inside said opening, an

atomzer. headlocated at one end of Asaid cylindrical body portion, said headtbeingf proportioned to pass through said cylindricalV opening, said body havinga channel extending from said head to an opening inthe wall of said cylindrical portion, a pair of `annular seals on said cylindrical body portion, one on each side of the wall opening, a second channel extending from said head longitudinally through said unit to a point beyond said annular seals, one of said channels providing for the delivery of `liquid to said atomzer head, andthe other ofsaid -channels providing for delivery of gas to said atomzer head, said body incorporatinglocating means to determine its longitudinal position when mounted in said mounting block, said seals being resilient and proportioned to Contact the inner surface of the opening in said block toretain said unit in position.

3. A delivery unit for an atomzer having a body with a cylindricalportion adapted to be mounted in a cylindrical opening, an extended body portion located beyond said cylindrical portion, said extended body portion having a dimension smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical body portion, said extending portion being slotted to form two prongs, an atomzer head device supported between and protected by said prongs, two channels extending from said head device, said cylindrical portion having an opening in its wall, an annular seal on each side of said opening, one of said channels endingzat the opening, the other of said channels extending to a point beyond said annular seals, said seals, being resilient and proportioned toengage the surface ofV the cylindrical opening for retaining said -unit in operating position.

4. An atomzer construction according to claim 3 in which `a pair of nipples are located at the bottom of the slot, said head being supported on said nipples.

5. Atomizing equipment'including a readily removable delivery unit, said unit incorporating a cylindrical body, an atomzer head supported on said body, said body haivng two channels therein connected to said head for the delivery of liquid andY gas` thereto, said atomizing equipment incorporating a supporting block with a cylindrical cavity proportioned to receive said body, said body having an opening in its cylindrical wall at which one of said channels terminates, a pair of sealing rings one mounted on each side of said opening, said rings being proportioned to react between said body and the walls of the cavity to produce support for said delivery unit, and a channel in said supporting block leading to said cylindrical cavity at a point 'between said sealing rings when said body is mounted in position.

6."A-delivery unit for an atomzer device, said unit having .a body with'asmooth cylindrical portion, apair of spaced annular seals mounted-on said cylindrical portionand projecting slightly therefrom, said seals-being resilient and having a diameter to iirmly engage the wall of a cylindrical opening to support said unit in position when. inserted therein, said body having a channelfwith an opening in the wall of the cylindrical portion between said seals, an atomzer heat at one end of said body to which said channel connects, said body also incorporating another channel extending from said head longitudinally therethrough for delivering uid to said atomzer head, said body having an enlarged portion at theV end thereof opposite to said atomzer head, said enlarged-portion being of greater diameter than the diameter of said'seals lto provide a shoulder of larger diameter than the opening into which said seals t, said atomzer head being proportioned-to pass through an opening the diameter of said'seals.

'References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,404 Donner Sept. 6, 1949 2,589,559 Lebeda Mar. 18,v 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 122,326 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1919 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,878,067 Maron l?, 1959 James R Groabolz It is hereby certified 'that error appears in bhe printed specification of the' above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 8, for Yohannels'f read au channel mg column 4, line' 27, for "beat" read head' Signed and sealed this '7th day of Julyl 1959s (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Ocer 

